I was recently reading my emails from an egroup and someone asked the group about BTD - I replied that it was the greatest thing I had come across and how it cleared up everything, etc, etc. (I am O- with Hypothyroid disease).Suddenly the email turned nasty and the following was sent in response to my reply. I was horrified and have since unsubscribed to the group. IN any case, I would love to hear what you think of this guy's take on the BTD:

One of the most fraudulent money makingschemes produced in recent "alternative" medicine. I am a physician,and have long believed in Alternative Medicine,and trying to really understand what a problem is etc. I've spent 30to 40 years studying Alternative medicine, decadesbefore I went to medical school. While in medical school I wasattracted to the idea put forth in the book:"Eat Right For Your Blood Type." I picked up a copy in a health foodstore and began reading while my wife was shopping.I read about 40 pages of the book, and when I started, I had a greatrespect for Naturopathic Doctors (ND's), never havingmet one, but hearing good things about them in the altervativeliterature.After I read about ten pages, I was horrified to find a MAJORmisstatement of known facts about nutrition, one sofundamental that anyone with a college degree, and especially someonewho called themselves a doctor should haveknown better than to say. I couldn't believe an ND was this totallyignorant of basic science, so I rejected my ownconclusion, and decided to chalk it up to a typo not caught by thepublisher or author. I continued reading. I found anothererror of fact, but it wasn't as big or important, so I kept reading.After about 40 pages read (my wife shops slowly), thisso called "doctor" AGAIN stated as if it were fact, something that'stotally inconsisent even with the most basic scientificfacts. What was this huge error you ask? He was saying that aminoacids and fatty acids were the same! Now, he wasn't sayingthat the whole groups were identical, but he was naming specificamino acids and putting at least one of them in the categoryof being a fatty acid. If this were correct, it wouldn't make anydifference to our bodies if we were to eat just plain fat trimmingsoff of meat, instead of eating the meat for it's protein content.I feel it's a disgrace that this man was ever given any degreethat allows him to call himself "doctor." He is so ignorant of thefacts that his books should be banned from the shelves due to grossnegligence of scientific facts, which may mislead peopleinto trying his erroneous diet. In the MOST FACTUALLY BASED bookever written about nutrition, Dr. Joel Fuhrman (an MD,not an ND) summarizes his reading of approximately 60,000 scientificarticles on diet and nutrition in the best book on thetopic, named "Eat To Live." If you read this book you will know moreabout diet and nutrition than virtually all doctors you maygo to, and certainly more than the ND I'm referring to. In fact, Dr.Fuhrman in his book talks about how it is logical for bloodtype to be related to different nutritional needs, but he cites theevidence, and shows that, in fact, some of the myths proposedabout what you should eat in the factually deficient book areactually the exact OPPOSITE of what scientific evidence showswould be right for you. He also points out that there needs to be alot more research to detect the subtle differences, and in themean time, you should eat more fruits and vegetables (by FAR) thanmost people do. By the way, I have no financial stake inanything Dr. Fuhrman does, I've never met the gentleman, but I haveread extensively in this area for decades, and his bookBLEW me away with how much he knows. Also, in the back of his book hehas more than 1,000 footnotes to the scientificliterature, and in a couple of areas where he said things thatsounded new or "off" to me, I looked up the original articles to checkout whether or not he had correctly conveyed the facts about thefindings in the article. In every case, he had.I'm sorry to go off like this on the Baba list, therefore, Irecommend we avoid topics like this, and stick to talking about theAvatar of the age! Speaking of which, one of the reasons I went offlike this, is this is in one of my areas of expertise, and guys likethis, and Dr. Atkins I believe are doing to their karma the samething that phoney spiritual masters are doing. Namely, they aredeceiving thousands of people with incorrect information, andstealing their money from them, and thus are going to have somenasty karma to work off later. (I could go on about how friends ofmine didn't listen to me, and had to have their gallbladders removedbecause they refused to quit the Atkins diet, or about how he killedhimself with a heart attack caused by his plugged coronary arteries(why else did he not break an arm protecting his head when he fell onice and got his brain injury? Because he was already unconscious fromthe heart attack which his wife tried to cover up. - and I know a lotmore details I won't waste your time with.)Now, I know the letter that set me off was talking aboutpersonality, not diet, but when you get info from a very dubious source,you'd better check everything twice. It may be there are somepersonality types somehow associated with blood types, but it will takea lot of large samples studies with very good measurement instrumentsto demonstrate it to be true, and as said above, the sciencepoints to Dr. D being incorrect in his assessments of what diets andnutrients we need based on our blood types.

Anyway, sorry for the rant, but if you want a safe and healthy diet,read Eat To Live, and you'll also be following a diet more similarto what Meher Baba Himself ate, vegetarian (except when he was beingpolite to his hosts on one occasion.) And you'll live longeralso, one study of thousands of vegetarians showed that if they werevegetarian for half or more of their life, they lived longer thanother people their same ages (even taking into account smoking anddrinking habits etc.), and the amount longer was a massive13 years ![color=orange][/color]

Sounds like the guy has a major axe to grind to me. I love how he never provides a specific quote regarding what he is claiming was such an egregious error. Depending on his blood type, it sounds like he needs to either do a little yoga or drink a little chamomile tea, and/or take an adult dose chill pill.

In other words, what's my take on it? To quote my twinnie in so many and varied situations: *shrug*.

He's a little too worked up not to have some kind of agenda going on. Don't let him faze you. You know it is working for you.

"If you are on one of Dr. D's diets and it isn't joyful, you aren't doing it right."- moi

Dr. Joel Fuhrman (an MD,not an ND) summarizes his reading of approximately 60,000 scientificarticles on diet and nutrition in the best book on thetopic, named "Eat To Live." If you read this book you will know moreabout diet and nutrition than virtually all doctors you maygo to, and certainly more than the ND I'm referring to

I have read this book and I think the above quote sums up pretty well where he is coming from. There is a 25 pg. attack section in the book where he goes after the Zone. Atkins and BTD. ( 7pg. for BTD ) Most of it went right past me though I should re-read it to get up to speed. Also a piece elsewhere where he goes after the AHA.

His system is 'one size fits all', almost vegetarian and based on his reading of the above mentioned extensive scientific research. He is anti-dairy as well as anti fish and animal protien. The rant, I believe, is anger about the fact that so many 'delusional' systems are in vogue while the scientific "real thing' is more or less ignored.

Ironic actually because I think his book is so focused on the validity of his sources that it would go right over the head of most readers. His diet is also somewhat un-natural as it involves a daily loading up on mainly fruits,veggies and beans.

HI - nice to hear from commrades! I was so irate and reactive, I actually quit the group which I was a part of for almost 10 years. I was seeing red. PS: I did not include his name which is Dr. David Bullock.My last reply to him was "Enough of your rant - which is not appropraite in this forum (spiritual group); if you are such an expert than challenge D'Dadamo himself or write your own bloody book!"

I even encouraged him to come onto this site to get better and more educated answers.

P.S. Eve, I'm sorry you quit the group you were part of for ten years over that guy's e-mail. Depending upon how much the group means to you, you may wish to reconsider. For instance, this BTD cybercommunity means the world to me and I wouldn't drop out if someone offended me, ya know? Otherwise, I'd be long gone *lol*! It is one thing if the e-group to which you refer has a general tendency or "culture" of people attacking each other, etc., but it's another if just one person sent a very vociferous e-mail which actually was not attacking you personally, just attacking the BTD. We all know the guy was way, way off base there, but at the same time, I see no reason for you to give up an e-group that has meant something to you for ten years over it. Just ignore that guy. If there was any substance to what he is saying, he would have provided a specific quote or quotes. He doesn't even know what he is on about. The heck with him.

"If you are on one of Dr. D's diets and it isn't joyful, you aren't doing it right."- moi

Hi Kyosha Nim,Thank you for your supportive words. I was filled with tears all day over leaving the group, but this guy was really the final straw. The group has always been a life line for me because I live in the sticks (at the moment) yet I have noticed more and more over the last year that more peole were bullying this way and that way with their opinion, picking emails apart that others shared, and the moderator was not willing to steer the group back to the primary mission.It was this guy's rant that seemed to sum it all up for me as well. Blasting over everyone in a forum that had nothing to do with nutrition - disrespecting the format on which the integrity of this group had evolved. I love these (BTD) threads, because you have the option to hear from all types about the topic. I trusted I would hear the comfort of balanced and educated reponses to my emotional reaction or the truth about maybe I need to move on. Either way, I trusted hearing it from this thread and not from someone attacking me.Thanks again very much.

after some deliberation I arrived at a somewhat different view of humans, that has served me well and permits an understanding about why people get confused. Think of three interlocking circles: name one - physical; a second - emotions; a third - intellectual. A larger circle encompases this triad .... call this one faith.

Each of the four is directed towards an end or a goal ..... for physical reality the goal is purpose; for emotions the goal is meaning; for the intellect the goal is understanding; and the thrust of faith is significance. There is somewhat of a process to follow ... no one can demand significance (which this rant asks) before also going through the aspect of meaning. [ imho Jesus does/did so by calling His followers 'brothers/sisters'].

This seems like isolation until you perceive the love/peace are at-one-ment. I become freer by loving ... a thing ... another person (a limited being) ... to God (an unlimited being). [Becoming liberated is when God extends His Being to us ....].

The 'rant' was for me wrong because I felt wrong/judged/condemned and not loved .... being 'right' can be so empty, eh?

John

“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius

Hi Kyosha Nim,Thank you for your supportive words. I was filled with tears all day over leaving the group, but this guy was really the final straw. The group has always been a life line for me because I live in the sticks (at the moment) yet I have noticed more and more over the last year that more peole were bullying this way and that way with their opinion, picking emails apart that others shared, and the moderator was not willing to steer the group back to the primary mission.It was this guy's rant that seemed to sum it all up for me as well. Blasting over everyone in a forum that had nothing to do with nutrition - disrespecting the format on which the integrity of this group had evolved. I love these (BTD) threads, because you have the option to hear from all types about the topic. I trusted I would hear the comfort of balanced and educated reponses to my emotional reaction or the truth about maybe I need to move on. Either way, I trusted hearing it from this thread and not from someone attacking me.Thanks again very much.

Oh, say no more, I've been on a board like that and ended up leaving and even after I left the goings on in the wake of that just proved to me that I had made the right decision and should have done so long before I did, but I got talked out of going with my uncomfy gut when I originally should have. No, if it has become bullying and attacking, you are wise to get out of there. I'm sorry to hear that after ten years though. That is a loss for you and I understand your tears. I would be so sad if I were to lose my BTD lifeline here. Luckily, this cybercommunity is very well moderated and, in case we all don't say that enough, let me shout really quickly from the rooftop:

Thank you, mods, for all you do here!!!

(Oh, geez, and I just broke a rule: I just used all caps for that--hold up, let me change THAT, as we can't have me thanking the mods while simultaneously breaking a rule **! ...okay, fixed!)

Developing a healthy internet/cyber community is a tricky thing, as you want to allow freedom, but also have just enough moderation to keep things civil and respectful. It is a VERY difficult balancing act that I feel this particular community gets right most of the time. Again: it is appreciated!!!

Anyway, sorry about your group of ten years, but it now sounds from what you are saying that you made the right decision. One thing I've learned the hard way re the net and all things net-related: go with your gut.*

* immediately edited to add: unless you've been eating wheat, in which case give it 72 hours and THEN go with your gut.

"If you are on one of Dr. D's diets and it isn't joyful, you aren't doing it right."- moi

one study of thousands of vegetarians showed that if they werevegetarian for half or more of their life, they lived longer thanother people their same ages (even taking into account smoking anddrinking habits etc.), and the amount longer was a massive13 years !

Wow, one year as a vegetarian put my health in the dumps, I wish it had added years to my life (I love tofu!) but I know otherwise. I'm sure there's plenty of data to refute the idea that vegetarians live longer...unless that study only included type As...

I recall nowhere in the book that amino acids and fatty acids were confused, of course, I don't even remember where they are mentioned. And who makes loads of money with BTD? Sure the book sold well, but it's not a corporate machine by any means.

Usually the more adament one is against something, the less I take them seriously. Closed-mindedness is not a sign of intelligence, though plenty of seemingly intelligent people seem to adopt it.

It will be interesting to see how The Genotype Diet is received. Even though everyone out there is beginning to talk about diet and genes, it will probably be way ahead of its time. People want simple answers, but few true answers actually are simple. I think it will be a great thing overall...can't wait to read it and discuss it with everybody.

Yes I've seen flamers like him on other boards before including an organic gardening forum. Their way or the highway. The last major flaming post on that board invvolved wither or not it was okay to let your dog wiz on the grass when walking it on a public sidewalk infront of private property. They didn't want to listen to me when I explained the concept of public right of way and the fact that they really didn't own the sidewalk(over 20 years experience with survey law, public utilities, and transportation engineering). Mind you I wasn't talking about letting the dog poop and not scoop it now.

Talking about starting a flame, some of the vegetarian O's I know seem a little spacey, unhealthy, and adamently defensive about their choice. Just talking about the ones I know in the real world and have met in person.

I think that when somebody makes a decision that they think is best for them, but it isn't because it makes them feel lousy or is a constant uphill battle, then they are very judgmental of people who haven't made that same choice or that disagree with their own decision.

If somebody really feels a decision they have made is worthwhile, then that is enough for them, and they don't feel the need to attack or judge others. If it is a true battle, and just doesn't resonate right with them, then they will externalize that battle.

THE MOST UNKINDEST CUT OF ALL. If none of the foregoing charges can bear scrutiny, strategists of personal denigration still hold an old and conventional tactic in reserve: they can proclaim a despised theory both trivial and devoid of content. This charge is so distasteful to any intellectual that one might wonder why detractors don't try such a tactic more often, and right up front at the outset. But I think we can identify a solution: the "triviality caper" tends to backfire and to hoist a critic with his own petard—for if the idea you hate is so trivial, then why bother to refute it with such intensity? Leave the idea strictly alone and it will surely go away all by itself. Why fulminate against tongue piercing, goldfish swallowing, skateboarding, or any other transient fad with no possible staying power?

I haveread extensively in this area for decades, and his bookBLEW me away with how much he knows. Also, in the back of his book hehas more than 1,000 footnotes to the scientificliterature, and in a couple of areas where he said things thatsounded new or "off" to me, I looked up the original articles to checkout whether or not he had correctly conveyed the facts about thefindings in the article. In every case, he had.[color=orange][/color]

Interesting! This is exactly what I did and concluded differently.

Two years ago I visited Dr. Joel Furdham web page. He had a section where he commented on the BTD. He mentioned something which did not sound famililiar to me. I re-read what Dr. D'Adamo had to say on the subject and Furdham was wrong. I can not remember now the issue as it was two years ago. I have gone to his web page to find out but he no longer comments on BTD.

WOW - I feel better than I ever expected. Reading each and every one of your emails has meant so much to me. Thank you John - I love your summary of the interlocking cirlces and quite agree. I do not believe in force feeding anyting onto others - hence we have terrorism. You really soothed me with your words since I was so attached for so long to the group that slowly but surely took a new shape; it took me too long to realize that I was not feeling "well" among the new shape.Peppermint Twist - I love your attitude. You are kind and honest. I know you know what I mean as you describe your feelings for this group. Certainly one of the best signatures too - being an O - and often craving a big fat hero/hoagie/sub sandwich! Shjoulderblade - your rsponse was the first level headed one I heard to the rant that bit me. I am not familiar with the book but as I am with so many titles, I am fam with the Eat To Live title. It really is great to hear from folks who have read the book and about other diets (ie Genotype diet); it lessens my emotional reaction. But when I get around others who are clueless and start preaching to open minds who are seeking, I start to get red. I also have to remember that I have found my answers here. After years of trying this one and that one (remember the HAAS diet?) I am not seeking anymore.As Melissa writes, I realize that once I'd become emotional, I was the same as the ranter - fearful and stupid (non-intellectual) and would not be heard. So, I had to break it off to gather up my witts with rational thought. But I also had to get some feedback to check in on my own motives. I cannot believe how strongly I feel about some things like a zealot, and how hard I have to work to keep it in check - a challenge for a meat-eating O who does not do enough exercise!!I too have met vegetarian Os and noticed some similar affects. They seemed really lethargic and passive - almost like they were suppressing their true selves. I look forward to reading more. You are a great group of blood types! Thanks again for supporting me through sound knowledge and genuine care. Eve

my very thought when I read that! My goodness if Dr D were all about making money, would he have all this info on the internet for FREE? For Pete sake, you don't even have to BUY a book if you don't want. Typebase4 has enough to get ya started right off the bat. It would be a little time consuming, but supposing you don't have $$ to buy the book and you already have internet, it's yours for the taking. Sheesh! What some people think.I did the Zone diet for a while and I did feel better. That however is due to the fact that ALL meals are protein/carb/fat. ALL snacks are protein/carbs I believe. You never eat only carbs. I have to wholeheartedly say, I never felt as good on the Zone as BTD. I don't remember a whole lot about it, but it's been almost 2 years here. Can't say that for the Zone. Have never tried any other diets but I'm here to stay for this one. Just check out my signature.

Quoted from eehaslam

I even encouraged him to come onto this site to get better and more educated answers.

I'm guessing none of us will be holding our breath waiting for him to appear. . My NP is very opposed to the BTD. He is a very very smart man but in this respect, makes me sad for him. It's frustrating as well because I have to sort thru what he tells me to see what conflicts w/ BTD. I'm moving on to another NP and will buy the book and ask him to at least read about Type O's if he's going to 'treat' me. Why anyone is so close-minded about someone elses' research, is beyond me. Pride? Embarrassment? Boy, in saying that, most drs SHOULD be embarrassed, ya know. Eve, I'm sure in a short while, you'll forget that yee-ha even said what he said. I once heard someone say the BTD was a government conspiracy to keep us sick. Tho I still remember he said it, I certainly don't let if guide my choices and obviously neither are you. If so, you'd still be on that other board and not here, eh? Sorry you had to endure all that baloney but glad you've gotten some of the feedback you were looking for here and that you're feeling better. It does tend to really irk ya when somebody is spouting off about the BTD and OBVIOUSLY knows nothing about it! . The DH was always rolling his eyes and making comments - for almost 2 yrs. Just this past week, he decided maybe 'I' did know what I was talking about and is doing it himself. I always used to tell him 'until you've tried it at 100% for a month, don't wanna hear it'. Cheerio ever-body. Nighty nite.

Ya know who's getting rich off me via the BTD?- the butcher!!! That's okay, I feel so much better that the $ is going to food instead of medicine for me now!And don't forget the the BTD books are in our libraries, too! I had Live Right out alot before I bought my own copy!As another O who doesn't get enough O exercise, I get hot under the collar re: ignoramus rants, too, but I think about how many people feel better because of BTD.a government conspiracy to keep people sick?! thanks for the guffaw!!!

OSuzannaA Before Picture , In the Process of Becoming an After Picture FOOD for THOUGHT, Super Beneficial 4 All Blood Types!

And who makes loads of money with BTD? Sure the book sold well, but it's not a corporate machine by any means.

I sure hope Dr. D is making money. And I am sure he is from NAP.

Fortunately, no one has pointed a gun on my head for me to purchase NAP’s products. If I have been convinced to buy (and I do buy plenty) is my problem and I do not believe I am stupid or easily influenced. I may be wrong thou.

I look forward to the time Dr. D. makes more money than the wheat and dairy guys (from government, health institutions, and customers) so we can have different research and I, hopefully, am proven right.

I cannot believe that after all these years, and despite the determined efforts of Klaper and McMahon, The Vegsource People, and all the others (to nitpick each and every line in my books in an effort to use tiny typos and glitches as 'proof' of the fallacy of the theory) that there is a passage in any book that confuses amino acids and fatty acids. People are funny.

A whole system is a living system is a learning system.â€™ -Stewart Brand

On the money thing: it is really hard to get rich off a diet that recommends WHOLE, natural, simple foods that cannot be patented or, wait, patented isn't the right word, but registered as your own brand or WHATEVER. I mean, leafy greens, fresh meats, fresh fruits, nuts...Dr. D. doesn't get a share of the profit when we buy these. I'm sure the BTD has been good to him with book sales/royalties and supplement sales through NAP, but don't we all make a living and isn't it admirable to make a living from giving something original, ground-breaking, healing, and much-needed to the world? Isn't it the ideal to be making a living from following your bliss and your passion, especially when that bliss and passion is one that helps people?

Unlike with many diets, we don't have to buy packaged meals nor is it even recommended, in fact it is frowned upon in our community to eat refined, packaged foods over whole, fresh foods! Dr. D. could have been making money for years had he been willing to produce an inferior protein bar but instead he pulled the old ones that weren't as good for nonnies as these new agave-sweetened ones are and he worked for YEARS to get it right before putting it back on the market. Right for our health, not for his bank account, which could have been raking it in for those bar-free years had he stuck a lower-quality bar on the market like so many other diets have. The NAP stuff is all top-notch, VERY pure, high-quality stuff. Yes, it earns money but it is also very expensive to produce and that is because profit is not the only motive, it is also about our health. The whole BTD surround-sound experience is about showing people a way to good, vital, vibrant, optimal health. To me, that's admirable and if a living can be earned from it, how great is that, versus earning money in all the ways there are that hurt people's health, the environment, etc.? I'm not seeing a problem here!

"If you are on one of Dr. D's diets and it isn't joyful, you aren't doing it right."- moi

I followed the BTD for quite a while without having to purchase one single BTD related product - no supplements from NAP or anything and I still haven't bought any of those things and as long as I get in my benefical and neutral foods and recommended excercise and avoid my avoids I do just great. The only BTD related thing I finally bought was one of the books and that I got on clearance from Amazon.com and paid only $5 for it so I doubt any money was made from that sale. And I'm so thankful I can follow this way of life without having to buy a bunch of pre-packaged non foods like you do with almost every other diet out there.